San Juan Deputy of Year knows highs, lows of the job

Feb. 21, 2013

Updated 1:17 p.m.

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Sheriff's Deputy Anton Pereyra, center, San Juan Capistrano's Deputy of the Year, is flanked by Sgt. Ray Ulmer, left, and Lt. John Meyer, San Juan's chief of police services, after Pereyra received his award at City Hall. JOSH FRANCIS, FOR THE REGISTER

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"I have always been the type of person to help others, and the excitement of this job, coupled with the ability to really help people from time to time, makes this the perfect fit for me," says Orange County sheriff's Deputy Anton Pereyra, San Juan Capistrano's Deputy of the Year. JOSH FRANCIS, FOR THE REGISTER

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Deputy Anton Pereyra receives thanks from San Juan Capistrano Mayor John Taylor for his service to the city. JOSH FRANCIS, FOR THE REGISTER

Sheriff's Deputy Anton Pereyra, center, San Juan Capistrano's Deputy of the Year, is flanked by Sgt. Ray Ulmer, left, and Lt. John Meyer, San Juan's chief of police services, after Pereyra received his award at City Hall. JOSH FRANCIS, FOR THE REGISTER

San Juan Capistrano's guardians of the night don't wear capes — they wear a badge.

The City Council this week honored Orange County sheriff's Deputy Anton Pereyra as the city's Deputy of the Year. He is a 13-year Sheriff's Department veteran and field training officer who often patrols during the late-night shift.

"He has proudly served the residents of San Juan Capistrano since his assignment to South Operations in July of 2010," sheriff's Lt. John Meyer, chief of police services in San Juan, stated in a letter to the council. "His commitment to the community, coupled with his strong work ethic, has earned him the respect of his peers, supervisors and members of the community."

Meyer told of an incident last March in which Pereyra was credited with saving a baby's life.

"Deputy Pereyra responded to a call of a baby not breathing. Upon his arrival, he saw that the baby was not breathing and had turned blue. Deputy Pereyra immediately began lifesaving techniques to clear the baby's airway. The baby then began breathing and ultimately made a full recovery," Meyer wrote.

We asked Pereyra about his award and his time in San Juan Capistrano:

Q. What is your most memorable moment as a sheriff's deputy in San Juan?

A. I would have to say it was the day we had a fatal traffic collision where an SUV flipped over onto the athletic fields of Marco Forster Middle School. The vehicle flipped over onto its roof and the passenger became trapped. The driver was able to get out. I was one of the first deputies to arrive on the scene and we immediately saw the vehicle was catching fire. We all gave everything we had to try and get the passenger out and put the fire out at the same time, all while he screamed for help. The fire department had not arrived yet and we used numerous fire extinguishers trying to put the fire out.

For all our efforts, we could not get the passenger out and the fire only grew bigger, eventually pushing us back onto the field. We had no choice but to abandon our efforts. The most difficult thing I ever experienced in my career came next – I had to watch and listen to the young man perish. It was the most helpless I had ever felt. Every single one of us on that field just sat in silence; we didn't know what to do. We asked ourselves for weeks after, "Could we have done something different?" This incident affected me for weeks.

Q. Why did you want to become a law-enforcement officer?

A. I was a glazier's apprentice for almost four years. I installed glass in large commercial buildings. I had always wanted to become a police officer since I was a child. I think as I grew older, it grew from the typical childhood dream of what we saw on television to the desire to have an exciting, always-changing job environment. Plus, I have always been the type of person to help others, and the excitement of this job, coupled with the ability to really help people from time to time, makes this the perfect fit for me.

Q. How does it feel to receive the Deputy of the Year honor from the city?

A. It's always nice to get a pat on the back for the hard work you have put in. Most of the time, this is a thankless job. Not many people are happy to have contact with us. It is very rare for us to get a "job well done" from someone other than our own partners or supervisors. So it is definitely a good feeling to be named Deputy of the Year and be recognized by the city.

Q. What do you like most about being a deputy in San Juan?

A. I like the diversity of the city from a deputy's point of view. This is a busy city that keeps us deputies on the move. Yet there is still time for us to go out and be proactive and try to stop the crime before it happens. We have a good team of deputies in the city and we work well together, so that undoubtedly makes for a good working environment.

Q. What do you think is the biggest problem San Juan Capistrano faces in terms of crime? And what are you and your fellow deputies doing to prevent or curb it?

A. Theft is definitely our biggest problem, mainly from vehicles and residences. We take every opportunity we can to speak to the citizens we contact and educate them on the simple measures they can take to minimize their risk of becoming a victim, such as locking your doors at all times. As patrol deputies, we try and remain active and mobile throughout the city, constantly driving everywhere we can to show a presence and contact anyone suspicious.

The city has done its part by hiring a crime prevention specialist, who has madeï¿½ greatï¿½ strides in educating the citizens and helping them to be prepared and organized in things such as Neighborhood Watch.

Q. What is the biggest difference between patrolling at night and during the day? Is there more crime or danger at night?

A. At night our call volume is considerably less than day shift, allowing us more time to be proactive in our duties. Obviously on nights, it's dark out and this makes it harder for us to see everything that is happening. On the other hand, it also makes it easier for us to move about the city without being immediately noticed, thus making it easier for us to catch criminals who don't realize we are there yet.

As for more danger or crime, I would have to say no to both. I think the dangers and crimes just become different. For example, on day shift it is very dangerous to drive with your lights and siren on during traffic hours, whereas at night, with very little traffic, it is much easier and safer for us to travel across the city to respond to calls.

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